Tube-expander.



Patented Aug. l9, I902.

m 0 v w um RN. A m BP M M an m Bt UM m w (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY MIKEL BARR, OF WADSWORTH, NEVADA.

TUBE-EXPANDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,292, dated August19, 1902.

Application filed March 27,1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY MIKEL BARR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wadsworth, county of Washoe, State of Nevada, have inventedan Improvement in Tube-Expanders; and I hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for expanding the endsof dues in boiler-sheets. Its object is to provide a rolling-tool whichwill be simple in construction and which will automatically releaseitself from the tube after spreading the latter, thereby enabling theoperator to roll all fines exactly alike. v

It consists of a casing embracing revoluble rollers, a mandrel orspreader, a sleeve having a left-hand screw-thread turnablein the casingand against which the mandrel is adapted to abut as it is driven home,and a gage-plate disposed in relation to the sleeve.

It also comprises details which will be more fully set forthhereinafter, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is an exterior View of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection of the casing. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line a; 00,Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view of the mandrel with the sleeve in section.

A represents a suitable casing carrying at its forward end the usualrollers 2 and operated by a tapered mandrel or spreader 3. A sleeve 4,having a left-handed thread, screws into the rear end of the casing, andthe distance which the head of the sleeveis desired to project beyondthe casing may be determined by means of a slidable gage-plate 5. Thesleeve is provided with a left-hand thread for the reason that it iscustomary to turn the mandrel to the right as itis advanced. The

head of the sleeve has a central polygonal recess 6, into which alike-shaped projection 7 on the mandrel is-adapted to fit when themandrelis inserted into the sleeve. The end of the mandrel is madepolygonal in crosssection either to receive a wrenchor the socket of apneumatic tool.

In operation the roller endof the tool is placed in the end of a tubethe desired distance. The mandrel is inserted into the sleeve and casingand power applied to drive Serial No. 100,181; (No model.)

in and rotate the mandrel. Having determined at what distance themandrel'must be driven in to spread one of any given set of tubesproperly, the gageo and sleeve 4 are set accordingly, so that as themandrel advances and the projection 7 engages the recess 6 the sleevewill be turned to automatically retract the mandrel. When the mandrel isreleased by the action of the sleeve, the tool can be removed by hand.Heretofore it has been necessary to use a hammer to loosen the mandrelafter spreading aflue. Thus not only is a considerable saving of timeeffected, but all tubes may be expanded uniformly, Whereas with theordinary rolling-tool it has been entirely a matter of judgment of theoperator when to stop rolling any particulartube.

In the operation .of these tools the mandrel is alternately struck by ahammer or like implement and turned by a wrench or other suitable means.The blows serve to advance the mandrel step-by step to spread the roll--ers, and the turning is for the purpose of rolling the tube evenly. Itis not to be understood that the part 7 of the mandrel would engage thesocket 6 by merely turning the mandrel. The mandrel is advanced, say,onefourth of an inch at a blow, and is then turned. It is given anothertap and turned again, and so on until the part 7 comes up to the socket.Sufficient care is taken to bring the sides of the shoulder. and socketinto line, and the next blow drives the mandrel in sufficiently, so thatthe next time the latter is turned to operate the rollers it will alsoturn the sleeve 4 and gradually Withdraw the mandrel. In actual practicethe corners of theshoulder of the part 7 are slightly rounded, and theedges of socket are beveled outwardly to insure the shoulder enteringeasily.

Having thus described. my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is v l. The combination ina flue-expander, of acasing, a tubular series of rods, a mandrel, and means in connectionwith saidcasing by which the mandrel may be automatically retracted.

2. The combination in a flue-expander, of a casing, a tubular series ofrods, 2. mandrel, means by which the inward movement of said mandrel maybe limited and means by which said mandrel may be retractedautomatically.

3. The combination in a flue-expander, of a casing, revoluble rodscarried thereby, a spreader, stop means upon the casing by which theinward movement of the spreader is limited and means by which thespreader is retracted automatically on engaging said stop.

4. The combination in a flue-expander, of a casin g, rollers carriedthereby, a left-threaded sleeve concentric with said casing and amandrel adapted to be inserted through said sleeve and easing.

5. The combination in a flue-expander, of a casing, rollers thereon, asleeve provided with left threads and turnable in said casing andconcentric therewith, and a mandrel adapted to be inserted in saidsleeve and casing to spread the rollers.

6. The combination in a flue-expander, of a casing, rollers thereon, asleeve threaded and turnable in said casing, a mandrel, and engagingstop, means upon the mandrel and sleeve whereby the mandrel is retractedas it is turned in opposition to the threads on the sleeve.

7. The combination in a tube-expander, of a casing, rollers thereon, amandrel, aleftthreaded sleeve in said casing and turnable in oppositionto the mandrel, and an adjustable gage-plate in relation to said sleeve.

8. The combination in a tube-expander, of a casing, rollers thereon, amandrel, a sleeve having a left-hand thread and in which said mandrel isslidable, a recess in the head of said sleeve, a projection on themandrel adapted to engage said recess to turn the sleeve and retract themandrel, and a gageplate slidable upon the casing and engaging thesleeve.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY l\IIIKEL BARR.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM N. STARK, J NO. L. FORD.

